It's been a busy month! Now that soccer is over and I finally have a little bit of time, it seems the weather has turned on me. It has been a wet and cool summer, and this past week has been even colder! We had overnight lows of just 9°C (48°F) a few times and daytime highs of only 20°C (68°F). Knowing the weather we have had, will you to understand the condition of my veggies. The zucchini's are non-existant anymore ... killed off by some sort of fungus, and the peppers are not producing fruit. The tomatoe plants are very short, and although loaded with fruit, they just arent ripening as quickly as they should. You can see here the plants are only as tall as the tomato cages ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) A new variety of Tomatoes for me this year are the 'Sicilian Saucer' tomatoes, grown for canning as they are fleshy. I am still waiting patiently for them to ripen ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) We have been harvesting another new to us fruit ... cucamelons. Production of these has definitely slowed down since the weather cooled off. My daughter loves them so I'll be growing them again next year. ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) The carrots and onions are doing well. We wont pull the carrots for several weeks, but there are a few onions that seem to be jumping out of the ground! ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) I was pleasantly surprised to find 4 pumpkins growing from the top of the compost pile! THis is the biggest so far ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) Moving out of the veggie garden and heading to the house, I am reminded of a Hosta bed that I haven't tended to for a while. Thankfully the Hosta are very large here and smother most of the weeds! The Hydrangea are having a great year! ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) Remember that Black Lace Sambuccas that I thought was dead this spring? Well it has grown back to almost the size it was before the winter!! ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) The Roses are doing well with this cooler weather. This one stem has 25 blooms on it! ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) Here's a 'Muskoka Moonlight' Rose ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) I have moved a seating area to this spot and so there will be BIG changes coming here next year! ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) Stepping thru to the gardens ... ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) Hoping the weather will stay nice long enough for me to enjoy the gardens for a while
Netty, your gardens are miraculous considering the conditions they have had this season.. Thanks for the stroll! Hank
Netty every time I see your garden my jaw drops. It just seems to get better and better!! I've never heard of cucamelons and am intrigued by them. As for your tomatoes - boy what a size - I hope they taste as good as they look. Your flower garden is so beautiful and a real credit to you.
I'm curious about the cucamelons also. Never heard of them. Do they get bigger than that? Please tell us more! Even though the weather seems to have stunted your veggies... it sure has been kind to your flowers. Absolutely beautiful. Stunning! Can't wait to see the changes to that sitting area. Okay... I'm going back to look at those gorgeous flower beds again!
I like your seating area Netty. The heater is a nice addition and the view is very attractive also. That tomato variety is mammoth. Have you ever tasted it elsewhere before?
Thanks so much for the kind words everyone! The tomatoes are finally getting red so I will be able to taste them soon. I planted them with the intention of making sauce, as well as Roma's. The Roma's have been slowing turning red so I have already canned some. I have another row of tomatoes with a few different varieties for eating. 'Beef Master', 'Parks Whopper', 'Money Maker', 'Mortgage Lifter', grape and 'Sweet Millions'. So far the Beef Masters are the winners, as well as the sweet millions. I probably won't plant grape tomatoes again as they aren't as sweet as the sweet millions. The 'Mortgage Lifters' are a disappointment - so far there are only 2 tomatoes on the plant! The cucamelons taste like cucumber and watermelon rind ... quite tasty indeed.
One just melts when he sees those gardens of yours. The flower borders and plots really do take my breath away...and the veggies, whilst retarded by the weather conditions still show promise. Well done, you!
